Improvement in carpet-stretchers



W. M. GALUSHA. CARPET STRETCHERS.

No.18 8,790. Patented March 27,1877.

ww mammwwm wwwwwwmmw MFETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON, n C.

UNITED STATES PATENT QTZTIGE.

4 WILLIAM M. GFALUSHA, OF EAST ARLINGTON, VERMONT, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELFAND DEWEY PHILLIPS, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN CARPET-STRETCHER S.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 188,790, dated March27, 1877 application filed February 15, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM M. GALUSHA, of East Arlington, in the countyof Bennington and State of Vermont, have invented an Improvement inGarpet-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification Garpetstretchers have been made with hooking teeth upon a bar that is drawnalong by the action of a transverse lever and rackteeth, but this devicehas to be secured to the floor by a spike.

My invention relates to frictional fulcrum: bars that rest upon thecarpet, in combination with the cross-lever and stretching bar, so thatthe party using the same can kneel or press his weight upon one of thefulcrum bars, while forcing the other and the stretchingbar along withthe carpet, the pressure being then transferred to the otherfrictionalful crum-bar, which is held in turn while the lever is moved, to againstretch the carpet. By this device the resistance to the carpetstretcheris frictional and the bearing-pointis changed from one side to the otheras the stretching progresses.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a plan of the stretcher, and Fig. 2 is aside view of the same.

The frictional fulcrum-bars a a are placed at a suitable distance apart,andthe portions 2 2 spread or diverge to the right and left for theperson to press upon by his knees or feet, and it is preferable to havethe under surfaces of these frictional fulcrum-bars aa, covered withcloth or roughened'at-the parts 2 2, so as to prevent slipping upon thecarpet.

The bars a/a are united together by the cross-bearer b, screwed orriveted at 3 3, to form fulcra upon which the parts turn, and the lever01 is also used-to connect these bars a a/by the fulcrum studs or screws45.

Between the fulcrum a a there is the stretcher-bar c, united to theleverd by the screw or stud 6, and to the cross-bearer b by the screw orstud 7.

There is a T-head, f, to the stretcher-bar 0,

in which head there are projecting teeth to catch the carpet, as at 8,and it is preferable to joint the cross-head to the stretcher-bar 0, toallow for a uniform strain on the teeth 8.

The lever d terminates with handles 0, and the stretcher is to be usedby laying it upon the carpet, bearing upon the fulcrum-bar a and movingthe lever d and its handles. so as to carry the stretcher c f forward;then the pressure is transferred to the fulcrum-bar a, and the lever dagain moved to press the stretcher forward, using the fulcrum 5 as abearing-point for the hand-lever (1. These operations are alternated,the frictional fulcrum-bar not in use being carried forward to a newposition on the carpet each time the hand-lever d is operated, and byapplying pressure to the advanced fulcrum bar before the pressure isrelieved from the one previously in use, the carpet is held so that itcannot draw back.

It will be apparent that the teeth 8, penetrating the carpet, preventthe stretcher releasing its hold upon such carpet, and if desired theremay be a second cross-head, m, to the stretcher-bar c, at the back end,into which teeth or pins are inserted. This allows the carpet to remaincomparatively loose between the two ends of the stretcher so as not tobe injured in the stretching of the carpet.

I claim as my invention-- 1. The frictional fulcrum-bars a a, incombination with the hand-lever d, stretcher-bar c, and cross-head f,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination, with the frictional bars a a, lever d, stretcher-bar0, and cross-head f, of the second cross-head m, substantially as setforth.

Signed by me this 9th day of February, A.

WM. M. GALUSHA. Witnesses:

H. O. BROWNSON, A. 0. UANFIELD.

